On the Rush Podcast featuring All-Pro Maxx Crosby, the seven-year defensive end provided insight on how tough it was to play in the Oakland Alameda Coliseum. The Oakland Raiders called the Oakland Alameda Coliseum home for 15 seasons, from 1966 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019. The Raiders had tough battles in the Coliseum, especially against their in-division rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs.
The stadium opened in 1966, and on December 15, 2019, the Raiders played their final game at Oakland Coliseum. They would lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars 20–16, and the team would relocate to Las Vegas the following season.
The Raiders made headlines of a different nature when they moved from the Oakland Coliseum to the more spacious Los Angeles Coliseum in 1982. After 12 seasons in Southern California, the team returned to their original city until they moved to Las Vegas and the newly built Allegiant Stadium.
Outside the Raiders, the Oakland Coliseum hosted the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball from 1968 to 2024. It was the last stadium in the United States to share professional baseball and football teams.
The Rush Podcast With Maxx Crosby
During an episode of Crosby’s Rush Podcast, the former Eastern Michigan prospect described the playing conditions at the Coliseum as “playing on concrete.” He described the field traction as “terrible” and how landing on the dirt can rip your skin right off.
Remember this field?? pic.twitter.com/gAcoVaXY4v
— The Rush Podcast (@TheRushWithMaxx) February 20, 2025
Crosby also gave insight into Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s frustrations over the terrible playing conditions while playing at the Coliseum. Crosby stated, “I’ll never forget. We played Kansas City in the second game. It was like a day game in Oakland, but Kelce complained so much about the dirt. He was like, why do you play on this crap?!”
It is safe to say the field conditions have improved now that the Raiders have moved to Las Vegas. In five seasons in Las Vegas, the Raiders might have improved the playing field, but they are still struggling to find success on the scoreboard.
The Raiders have an eventful offseason on the horizon. The team has a brand new regime led by general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll. They will look to rebuild a roster that posted a 4-13 record last season and lost ten straight games at one point.
Though the Raiders will likely be active on the player acquisition front, the franchise also has to figure out some extensions with key players already on the roster, like Crosby. The four-time Pro Bowler has just two years left on a four-year, $94 million extension he signed with Las Vegas in 2022, but none of that money is guaranteed over the next two seasons.
